Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1887-12-03

jealous Of working Christians Whilst they
may feel uncertain rs regards tho truths OF
Christianity, the immortality N the soul, or
even the existence Of God. and doubt the
necessity OF troubling themselves rs regards
Q future existence, yet for the purpose OF being
ON the "saie side, /" aud for other reasons which
may be connected with their well being or
comforts Ia their present life, they become
church members and act f,ithrily their part
as such so car as outward Appearances go. /
do not wish to be understood as intlmating
that these doubling persons are Atheists or
innlels, nor do IN any manner condemn
them ortryspg to place themselves upon the
"safe side.p
Many ofthem are acting earnestly In their
search for truth, hoping 20 drive from their
hearts every vestige of doubling or skepticism
and Often think that they would take upon
themselves much trouble and make great
sacrifices TO do so. But the one great fault
with them Is, that they often defer these sac
rificcs, IL the form OF a little troublesome
labor, too long In their dependence upon
others 10 teach them what they should seek
! to learn them selves by personal investlga-
lion.
! We do not usually act thus clreless or in
different as regards matters pertaining to our
worldly affairs. We do not willingly depend
upon hearsay evidence In regard TO things
seriously affecting our pecuniary interest, our
bodily safety, OF our worldly comfort, when
We can personally investigate the matter for
ourselves. When we hear of something that
may seriously effect she titles to our lands, or
cause the destruction of our homes, or the
Y ~ On Aa l,.A
lives OF ourselves and families, and we can
learn OF the truth or falslty of these rumors
by little trouble In the way OF personal
investigation do we make the investigation
Or do we simply content ourselves by await
/ Ing to hear what Others have to say? Now
for the purpose Of illustration will state
case. certain man ana his family resides
Within dwelling purchased from other par
ties. Himself and family have been occu-
pants OF this house for many years IL has
the appearance of being strong and very SUBJ
stantially built, and Us his friends and neigh-5
bors have all Informed him that the founda-
tions We're good, he has ever felt perfectly
secure, having no fears for his own and his
fanily's safety, and therefore no desire 10
make u personal Investigation himself of the
foundations. Well just so long us this man
with his family is left to themselves or alone
with their former old associates and friends
/ he may have no cause to doubt or fear for the
SAFETY of his house, and his mind uutroubled
by doubts or fears, Will possibly rest in peace
! full security to the end. Ifthere wasan assuF-
ance that this would stu continue to be the
case, and that nothing would arise calculated
to inslll doubt within his mind. then the
trouble attendant upon personal invastlga-
tion would be unnecessary, for his house Is
really very strong and substantial, with its
I foundations resting upon solid rock. But in
the meantime there COMES to visit him at his
home, or he may otherwise come in contact
with well dressed, afiabe stranger of good
character, or 1t may be an old friend of by
gone days, who has been long wanderer
from home, and an associate with various
kinds of people. This stranger or friend, as
the case may be, informs him that the foun-
dation of his house does not rest upon 70 k,
as he has ever supposed, but upon sand; and
is therefore at any time liable TO fall and cause
! the destruction OF himself and family. This
information given and sought to be proven
by shrewd and plausible argument, may or
may not be regarded as true by the owner of
the house, but whether true or false, 1t causes
an uneasy feeling to dwell within his mind,
which can only be eradlcated by q personal
and thorough investigation. What does he
do under these circumstances Does he wait
to get further Information from old friends or
Others, whilst the loss of property Is at stake
and the lives of himself and family endan-
gered?
! He does not, but gathering together such
implements rs are necessary, he excavates
the earth from about the walls, and makes all
such necessary examinations as will induce
him to know, mot from hearsay evidence"
but from personal knowledge of facts, that
his mansion does not rest upon sand, but upon
q foundation of solid rock. After he has done
this then not even the shadow OF doubt can
dwell within his mind ami regardless or what
the world may say, he can rest in peaceful
security, having no fears ofimpendings storms,
though angry floods may rage around him on
every side, for he knows that he is protected
by an impregnable fortress, whose walls rests
4 upon q foundation of solid rock.
!. Aswe would do in this particular, as regards
our earthly affairs, in which we can claim
only transitory intert st, so we should do in
regard 10 those in which! we possess an eternal
interest. If there is even the shadow OF a
the existence of living God. 1t is our duty to
use all available means within our power In
dispelling that doubt, by removing every
atom Of rubbish in the way of our doing so.
For this great and Supreme Being alone is the
solid rock upon which must rest the immor-
tally OF the soul, the great principles of reli-
gion, and our hope OF g life beyond the grave.
If there is no God, there can be no future
exisrence, no life Beyond the tomb. no bright
and beautiful Heaven within which to rest
our sad and weary thoughts IN the hour OF
distress, and no single ray OF hope to cheer
aud brighten the close of our Journey through
and beyond the dark river of death, whose
! gloomy waters must close over and forever
alike our hopes and onr fears, our Joys and
sorrows, and our dreams OF a better fate.
st. Bethlehem, Tenn.
Habitual Constipation
Any kidney and liver ills, depend
ing on a week or inactive condition